Free Republic

History of Xi from youth forward.

LAND O' LAKES - Two debates later, both Republicans chasing that House of Representatives dream are still standing. This modest evaluation may be the best that can be said for either Sheriff Richard Nugent or Everyman Jason Sager, whose unlikely rivalry conjures less Lincoln vs. Douglas or Dempsey vs. Tunney than Phineas vs. Ferb - one fiery, inspirational and startling, the other plodding, predictable and safe. <snip> Nugent, in his third term as Hernando County's top cop, is the establishment guy, a technician with demonstrated organizational and executive skills. His even-keel personality suggests moderation and prudence, and while these qualities...

SACRAMENTO — After months of dire warnings and a week of round-the-clock arm-twisting, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this afternoon signed a $41 billion budget package of steep tax increases and spending cuts. ... There is something in the package sure to offend nearly everyone: fed-up voters, tax-averse conservatives, labor unions, environmentalists, educators and local officials worried about how to keep the fraying social safety net from snapping. The deal also could end the political careers of the handful of Republican legislators who joined fractious Democrats to vote "aye" as the sun rose Thursday. The governor did not make any comments as...

I came home from work yesterday and there was a Harold Ford for U.S. Senate sign in my yard. Checked with the wife and she had not given anyone permission, nor had the sprogs. What would you do? Other than ripping out the sign which I did pronto. I find this to be just unbelieveably sleazy, but I guess that should be no surprise from this dirty family and their dirty dirty campaign staff.

SNIP R.B. Brenner, Maryland editor of The Washington Post, said the newspaper "had no involvement in any way in the chat room postings between NCPAC and MD4BUSH on the freerepublic.com Web site." "The Post did not know about them until after they had already occurred, as we have reported in the newspaper," Brenner said, adding "we do not know the identity of MD4BUSH." "When we obtained copies of the chat room messages between NCPAC and MD4BUSH, it was clear that they contained potentially newsworthy information," Brenner said. To verify their authenticity, he said, "someone acting on behalf of MD4BUSH provided...

This is the text of an alert from VCDL: Guys and Gals, In a bizarre turn of events in yesterday's Militia, Police and Public Safety, several key gun bills did not get heard and will be dead for the year unless we can convince Republican leadership to get the bills heard on Monday (cross-over day is Tuesday and it will be too late then). The most important pro-gun bills that did not get heard are: HB 2424 - Del. Cole's restaurant ban repeal HB 2935 - Del. Cline's bill to remove the Capitol gun ban (Sen. Cuccinelli's bill is dead...

why now?

France accuses US of skulduggery May 17 2003 Paris France has launched a diplomatic counter-offensive against America, accusing the Bush Administration of orchestrating a vengeful plot to discredit President Jacques Chirac's Government. In a letter delivered to senior US Government officials and members of Congress, Jean-David Levitte, the French ambassador to Washington, claimed that France was the victim of an "organised campaign of disinformation" and demanded that it must cease. Attached to the letter was a two-page list of press reports over the past nine months that the French insist were fabrications based on deliberate leaks from American officials. "We're...